Sprinkler



J. E. HIGGINS SPRINKLER Filed April 13, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l I II. 22.1

i wimm u. .7

Aug. 3

J. E. HIGGINS- SPRINKLER Filed April 13, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 u fmw Patented Aug. 3, 1925.

UNITED STATES JOSEPH E. HIGGINS, OF GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA.

My invention relates to improvements in sprinklers of the type used primarily for lawns and gardens, and one object is to provide a new and improved sprinkler which, while setting stationarily at one point, may be made to sprinkle the ground around such point, for an arc of any desired length, unique provision being made whereby after moving in one direction and sprinkling the desired arc of ground, the device will automatically reverse, move in the other direction and re-sprinkle the same. this action occurring repeatedly as long as the water is supplied to the sprinkler head or nozzle.

Another object of the invention is to provide anovel arrangement whereby the device maybe adjusted to sprinkle either a short are or a long arc, as occasion may demand. In fact, inmost instances,-the device is so adjustable that its arc of travel may be varied to a wide range of'distances.

lVith the foregoing in view, the invention residesin the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, the description being supplemented by the accompany ing drawings.

Figure 1 is atop plan view.

Figure 2 is a side elevation.

- Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Figure 1 is ahorizontal sectional view on line 4.-4 of Fig. 3.

Figure 5 is a detail horizontal section showing a different type of adjustable trip which may be used for reversing the operating means of the sprinkler head or nozzle. I Figure 6 is an edge view'of the parts shown .in Fig. 5.

In the drawings above briefly described which may be considered as disclosing the preferred form ofconstruction, the numeral 1 designates a tubular standard rising from an appropriate base (not shown) and provided at its lower end with any suitable type ofqcoupling (not shown) for connecting itcwith an ordinary garden hose. The upper end of this standard rotatably receives a tube 2 having its 'upper end closed as indicated at 3 and provided with an appropriate nozzle 4. The tube may well be mounted in any desired manner in the standard 1, but for illustrative purposes, I have shown it provided with an external circumferential groove 5 which receives the *1 SPRINKLER.

. Application filed April 13, 1925.. Serial No. 22,827.

inner end of ascrew 6 passing through the standard. i j

A ratchet wheel 7 has its hub 8 suitably secured to the upper end of the standard 1, and above this wheel, an oscillatory arm 9 is provided, said arm having a hub 10 free to move about the tube 2. Pivoted to this arm by a bolt or the like 11, is a reversible double-ended pawl 12 which may be provided with any preferred means for yieldably holding it in either of its operative positions with respect to the teeth of the ratchet wheel 7. Obviously, when one end of the pawl engages the teeth, said pawl may thrust in one direction against the wheel 7., whereas disposition -of the other end of said pawl, in contact with the teeth, will allow said pawl to thrust in the other direction.

In the preferred form of construction, the pawl 12 is provided with a rigid arm 13 with which an appropriate spring device 14: is operatively connected to exertits power to yieldably hold the dog in either operative position, and to also complete its move ment toward such position, after it has been moved slightly beyond a neutral or dead center point. In the present showing, the spring 14L surrounds a rod 15 which at 16 is pivotedto the arm 13, said rod passing slidably through an appropriate guide 17 carried by the arm 9. This guide is preferably pivotedto the arm 9 as at 18.

Mounted in appropriatebearings 19 onv an upper plate 20 which is secured to the tube 2, is a shaft 21 having a propeller 22 located tobe rotated by the water discharged from the nozzle 4. This shaft drives a vertical shaft 23, preferably by means of a worm 24 and a worm gear 25, and the lower end of said shaftj23 carries a wrist pin 26 which is received in a-slot 27 in the arm 9. By means of the shaft 23,wrist pin 26 and slot 27, the top plate 20 and the arm 9 are connected, but this connection is such that they may have relative movement. As the shaft 23 is rotated, its wrist pin 27 swings the arm 9 ma direction to cause its pawl 12 to click idly over the teeth'of the ratchet wheel 7, while the shaft 2'3is making half a revolution. Then, the wrist pin has a 105 tendencyto swing the arm 9 in the opposite direction, but the armcannot so move on'account of engagement of the pawl 12 with the ratchet wheel. The result is, that the plate 20 and shaft 23 movewith respect to 110 Gil the arm 9, the tube 2 being the pivot and turning with said plate, so as .toswing the nozzle ittoa diilerent position. gItwill thus plat-e has been turnedzto the desired extent in the 'first mentioned direction. 'EID the present showing, stwo :stop pins .28 .and 29 arecarried by the wheel? "for this purpose. When .plate QOanddhearm 9 have advanced around .the ratchet wheel .to such anextent as -:to cause either .of these .pins to strike the arm -13, the next advancement of [the .parts 20 .and '9, .will move said arm 13 and the spring 14 to orslightly beyond a dead cen ter position, ,so that the spring then :immediately acts to reverse the position of the pawl 12. Operation of the wrist pin '26 will then ,cause the arm *9 and plate 20 to swing in the reverse direction :from that in which they were previously traveling. The pins or trips 28 and 29 are by preference relatively adjustable, and :in Fig. 4, 1 have shown a plurality of openings -30 in :the wheel 7, with any one of which-the pin 29 may be engaged. "Thus, the distance which the plate 20 and associated parts will travel before {being reversed, may be readily controlled, with obvious advantages.

The part designated at;3 1,=is.a spring dog secured to the' pla-te 20 andyieldably yet forcibly engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheel 7, so ias to .holdsaidplate 20 and .associated' parts ineach position :to which they are advanced,'.wl1ilethe ,pawl :12 is clicking idly OVQTithG-tfifillh ofsaidywheelfi, toobtain a new grip thereon.

In Figs. 5 and 6, I hitVByCllSClOSQd a different type of adjustable ,trip =Wl1i6l1 may be o s dered a usabl nstead of ,the'adjustable pin .29. in this construction, .an arm 32 underlies the'ratchet wheel :7 and is formed with a ,hub 33 which is -free= to ,turn

. about the :hub of said wheel, Ebutis :held

I By providing the novel construction shown and described-Ora substantialpequivaany of practically ,any, desired length.

As eXcellent resultsare obtainable from thedetails disclosed, they are by preference followed. However, within the scope of the invention as ;clainoecl, numerous modifications may be made.

1 J claim-z :1. A sprinkler comprising a support, a ratchet wheel fixedly mounted thereon, water spraying means :rotatably connected with said support and provided with a plate pmj ecting horizontallyover said ratchet wheel, a floatingpawl carrier between saidiprojecting plate and said ratchet Wheel, a reversible pawl mounted on said floating pawl carrier, co-lacting means on said projecting plate and saidc rrier acting in conjunction the pawl :and ratchet wheel .for alternately .moving the carrierin .one direction and said plate in the same direction about an :axis, and driving means for the last mentioned means, including a propeller adapted .to be operated ;by ,the water discharged ifrom the spraying means together ,with means :for repeatedly reversing the aforesaid pawl automatically.

2. A structureras specified in' claim 1'; said reversingmeanscomprising a pairiof spaced trips carried fixedly. V i

Astructure asspe'cified in claim 11.; said reversing means comprising a pair oif 'spaced trips carried fixedly, J-Said trips2being relatively adjustable.

4. A sprinkler comprising a support, a ratchet wheel .fixedly .inounted thereon, water sprayingmeans rotatablyconnected with said support and provided with acplate projecting horizontallyover saidratc'het wheel, a floating pawl carrier between :said projecting plate and said ratchet wheel, a pawl mounted on said'floating .pawlicarrier, c0- acting means on said projecting plate and said carrier acting' in conjunction with the pawl and ratchet wheel for alternately .moving the carrier in one direction and said plate in the same direction about an sails, and drivin .means for the last mentioned means, .inc udingha propeller adapted to be operated by the water discharged from 'the spraying means 5'. A sprinkler comprising a support, a ratchet wheel fixedly carried thereby spraying means connected with ;the support for rotation about an axis concentric with said ratchet wheel, said sprayingmeans ha'ving a projecting plate disposed over said ratchet wheel, a fi'oating pawl carrier between the plate and ratchet'wheel, apa-wl mounted .on said carrier and engaging the teeth of said ratchet wheel, a vertical "shaftrotatably carried :by' said plate and having an eccentric operatively connected with said pawl carrier to act in conjunction with the pawl and ratchet wheel and alternately effect movement of said carrier and said plate in the same direction, and driving means for said shaft mounted on said plate and including a propeller adapted to be operated by the water discharged from the spraying means.

6. A sprinkler comprising a support, a ratchet wheel fixedly carried thereby, spraying means rotatably connected with the support co-axially with the ratchet wheel and extending above the latter, said spraying means having a plate spaced above said ratchet wheel, a floating pawl carrier between the plate and ratchet wheel, co-act-- ing means on the plate and carrier for rela tively moving them, driving means for said co-acting means mounted on the plate and adapted to be driven by the water discharged from the spraying means, a reversible pawl mounted on said carrier for engagement with said ratchet wheel to hold the carrier against retrograde movement, said pawl having a reversing member and a spring device acting thereon to hold the pawl in either of its operative positions, and spaced trips carried fixedly to be alternately engaged by opposite sides of said reversing device of the pawl, to actuate the same.

7. A structure as specified in claim 6; said trips being carried fixedly for relative adjustment.

8. A sprinkler comprising a support, a ratchet wheel fixedly carried thereby, spraying means rotatably connected with the support co-axially with the ratchet wheel and extending above the latter, said spraying means having a plate spaced above said support, a floating pawl carrier between the ratchet wheel and plate, water driven means mounted on said plate for relatively moving the latter and the carrier, a reversible double-ended pawl pivoted on a vertical axis to said carrier and co-acting with the ratchet Wheel to hold the carrier against retrograde movement, said pawl having a horizontal reversing arm extending inwardly substantially toward the axis of the ratchet wheel, a spring device connected with the inner end of said reversing arm and connected also with the pawl carrier, said spring device being operable at opposite sides of a dead center position to hold the pawl in either of its operative relations with the ratchet wheel, and spaced trips carried fixedly to alternately engage opposite sides of said reversing arm.

9. A sprinkler comprising a tubular water-conducting standard, a ratchet wheel rigidly secured to the upper end of said standard, a vertical tube swiveled in the upper end of said standard and projecting above said ratchet wheel, said tube having a nozzle at its upper end, a horizontal plate rigidly secured to the tube and spaced upwardly from the ratchet wheel, a pawl-carrying arm between the plate and ratchet wheel having an opening through which the aforesaid tube passes, a short vertical shaft rotatably carried by said plate and having an eccentric at its lower end operatively connected with said pawl-carrying arm to effect relative movement of said arm and plate when the shaft is driven, driving means for said shaft mounted on said plate and including a propeller adjacent the aforesaid nozzle, a reversible double-ended pawl carried by the outer end of said arm and pivotally connected thereto on a vertical axis for engagement with the ratchet wheel to hold the pawl-carrying arm against retrograde movement, said pawl having an inwardly extendlng reversing arm, a spring devlce connected with the two arms and active on either side of a dead center position to hold the pawl in either of its 0perative relations with the ratchet wheel, and spaced trips carried by said ratchet wheel for alternate engagement with opposite sides of said reversing arm.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

" JOSEPH E. HIGGINS. 

